Two Friends, One Couple and A Date

Aurora stared at the small red marriage certificate booklet in her hand in wonder.

She and Xander had filed for their marriage and fifteen minutes after the registration without any witnesses from their side, their marriage certificates were given to them. She had never seen anything like that.

'Are protocols only meant for a certain grade of people?' she wondered. Even her millionaire father always followed protocols. Just who was this Xander Scott?

Aurora wondered if he actually came from the same Scott family as Owen because the latter receives a different treatment.

"Let me have your booklet," Xander demanded, pulling her out from her thoughts.

"Huh?" her brows furrowed in confusion. He had his own booklet, why did he want hers?

The corners of Xander's lips curved into a smile that spread across his face. "I will hold onto it so you don't lose it," he explained and directly took the booklet from her hand before leaning in to kiss her cheek.

Aurora watched him as two lines appeared on her forehead. "You know, I'm not careless."

"Sweetheart, I didn't mean that." Xander looked apologetic thanks to her expression of confusion mixed with a tinge of doubt. "I have a safe where I keep all important documents, so these two, are going in there."

Xander's explanation does nothing to stop Aurora's wary thoughts. It seemed to her that he liked to hide the things he deemed important.

Although she wasn't sure if she was that important to him, but he wants their marriage to be kept a secret until three months. Secondly, he had a secret space in his study which obviously means there was something he was keeping away from others. Lastly, their marriage certificates. He wants to keep it in a safe.

Even if her deductions might be wrong, there has to be some truth to it.

---

Aurora and Xander arrived at the private restaurant the latter had reserved for their dinner and were escorted to their private room where Abigail and Asher had been waiting.

"Aura!" Abigail sprang from her seat and rushed towards Aurora to embrace her. She was so excited to see her.

"I missed you so dearly." Aurora wrapped her arms around her tightly.

On the other hand, Xander and Asher shook hands casually as they had already met each other earlier.

"Sweetheart, let me introduce you to my best friend, Asher Moore." Xander beckoned on Aurora after she separated from Abigail. And she came to stand next to him, fixing her gaze on the tall handsome fellow smiling at her.

Asher reached out his right hand and as Aurora took it, Xander added, "Asher, meet my lovely wife, Aurora Swift."

"It's an honour to meet you, Mrs. Scott." Asher shook Aurora's hand gently before bringing the back of her hand to his face. He leaned in, pressing his forehead to it instead of his lips. And all this while, Xander stood there without a reaction.

He knew his best friend was going to greet his wife respectfully like the well-raised son he was. But Aurora had been a little horrified, thinking otherwise.

"Xander, meet my best friend, Abigail Miller. Abby, meet my husband, Xander Scott." Aurora formally introduced Xander to her best friend, and they shook hands, before going to sit around the dinner table.

As the waiters stepped in to serve the appetizers, Auora, Xander, Abigail and Asher, got to know more about themselves, a discussion that centred more on their career. They got to learn a bit about each other's job.

Aurora gave Asher a few glances during dinner after catching a snippet of the tattoo along his neckline with the remaining part hidden inside the collar of his shirt. The latter seemed to notice her curious gaze and flashed her a harmless smile.

Aurora withdrew her gaze after being caught and never let her gaze stray again.

Watching Xander from the corner of her eyes, she wondered if he had tattoos or any part of his body.

They had only had sex once, and it happened that night she was disoriented. Also, she hadn't got a properly look at Xander's back that morning even though his chest had been bare, so it wasn't enough to conclude he didn't have one.

After the main course meal, Abigail excused herself to use the bathroom and dragged Aurora along.

"Does that Asher look like someone who has a decent job?" Abigail stood in front of the sink to wash her hands, peering at Aurora through the mirror.

Aurora narrowed her eyes at her ridiculous question. "Abby, you heard the man. He is into importation and exportation."

"I bet he only exports drugs and imports ammunition." Abigai rolled her eyes.

"Abby!" Aurora's gaze widened as she stood stunned watching her best friend. "Why would you say that? You are literally calling him a criminal. Are you judging him based on his tattoos?" What if someone heard her?

Abby scoffed. She stepped away from the sink and walked to the dryer to dry her hands. "It's a gut feeling. I know dangerous men when I meet them."

"I think you have been watching far too many movies lately." Aurora frowned. Suddenly, a thought came to her. "You sound like you already hate this Asher. Did something happen between you two before Xander and I arrived?"

Abigail stepped away from the dryer, hooking her arm around Aurora's, she dragged her out of the restroom.

"That is not important. My hunch is 80% correct most of the time because I am meticulous."

Aurora eyed her from the side. "You mean, it's because you never mind your business?"

"It's not fun minding my business." Abigail smiled. "Anyway, be careful of your husband since he associates with someone of the likes of Asher Moore."

Aurora shook her head, letting out a soft sigh. "I think you need to take a chill pill," she said as their steps fell in place.

Back in the room, Xander and Asher continued chatting after the women left.

"I'm glad you didn't marry someone like that Abigail," Asher said, dabbing the corner of his lips with a napkin.

"Why?" Xander mused with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. It doesn't matter that he could already guess the reason for that remark, he just wanted to hear Asher's thoughts from his lips.

Asher met his gaze as he leaned back in his seat. "You wouldn't be able to keep anything from her for long."